merit severest punishment will be quite overlooked in another case.

CALL TO REFORM

The following, signed by leading British writers, scientists, politicians, etc., appeared in the letter column. of THE TIMES (London), March 7, 1958:

Sir, We, the undersigned, would like to express our general agreement with the recommenda tion of the Wolfenden Report that homosexual acts commited in private between consenting adults should no longer be a criminal offense.

The present law is clearly no longer representative of either Christian or liberal opinion in this country, and now that there are widespread doubts about both its justice and its efficacy, we believe that its cotinued enforcement will do more harm than good to the health of the community as a whole.

The case for reform has already been accepted by most of the responsible papers and journals, by the two Archbishops, the Church Assembly, a Roman Catholic committee, a number of non-conformist spokesmen, and many other organs of informed public opinion.

In view of this, and of the conclusions which the Wolfenden Committee itself agreed upon after a prolonged study of the evidence, we should like to see the Government introduce legislation to give effect to the proposed reform at an early date; and are confident that if it does so it will deserve the widest support from humane men of all parties.

Yours, &c.,

N. G. Annan; Attlee; A. J. Ayer; Isaiah Berlin; Leonard Birmingham;

Robert Boothby; C. M. Bowra; C. D. Broad; David Cecil; L. John Collins; Alex Comfort; A. E. Dyson; Robert Exon: Geoffrey Faber; Jacquetta Hawkes; Trevor Huddleston, C. R.; Julian Huxley; C. Day Lewis; W. R. Niblett; J. B. Priestley; Russell; Donald O. Soper; Stephen Spender; Mary Stocks, A. J. P. Taylor; E. M. W. Tillyard; Alec R. Vidler; Kenneth Walker; Leslie D. Weatherhead; C. V. Wedgwood; Angus Wilson; John Wisdom; Barbara Wootton.

This was followed on March 10th by a lengthy editorial analyzing police statistics regarding cases of homosexual arrests. On the 9th, the following letter appeared in THE OBSERVER, a Sunday paper:

Sir, There is news from the English provinces of renewed prosecutions of homosexuals. The Wolfenden Committee's report, which recommended that private homosexual behaviour between consenting adults should no longer be a criminal offence, seems to have been buried by the Government.

It is time, I suggest, that an organisation should be formed with the aim of keeping this matter before the attention of Parliament and the public. M.P.s and other persons with influence in public life should be circularised with the latest medical knowledge on the subject. A Private Bill giving effect to the relevant proposals in the Wolfenden Report should be drafted and submitted each session to Members lucky in the draw. One or other of the charitable trusts should be asked to give this project-or something like it-financial support.

George A. Combe. Roseneath, Wormit, Fife.